Before: A Very 90s Kitchen

This beautiful home, located in the highly sought-after Spaulding Farms neighborhood of Greenville, SC, was originally constructed in the 1990s. While the home itself was warm and inviting, the kitchen felt closed off. After 30+ years, it was time for a refresh through custom kitchen design.

Design Pain Points

The typical 90s finishes in this space immediately made it feel dated. Tile countertops were in vogue at the time, but today, many homeowners find the grout lines difficult to clean and maintain. In addition, the dark cherry cabinets overwhelmed the room and didn’t align with the coastal, modern aesthetic our clients wanted.

Beyond aesthetics, the layout caused daily frustrations for the homeowners:

• A lengthy peninsula disrupted the natural flow through the space

• Wall cabinets abruptly ended halfway down the wall (leaving valuable storage unused)

• Clipped corners on the cabinets and countertops felt visually distracting

It was clear that this kitchen no longer aligned with the way the homeowners wanted to live.

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Designing a Fully Custom Kitchen

Semi-Custom Cabinetry can often accomplish our goals. However, this project required a fully custom kitchen design to achieve the homeowners’ vision and maximize the space.

Custom cabinetry allowed for features that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise, including:

• A custom island, color-coordinated with the backsplash tile

• A built-in cookbook shelf for personalized storage

• Glass cabinet doors for displaying heirloom pieces

• Double-stacked upper cabinets to maximize height and storage

• Extra-deep cabinets for improved functionality

• A modified cooktop cabinet with a shorter top drawer to maintain usability

Our team worked closely with the homeowners to optimize the cabinet layout, finding a solution that delivered both functionality and a cohesive, high-end design.

Hidden Challenges with Customization

A custom Kitchen Remodel is far more complex than a Remove and Replace Remodel. It often requires completely reworking the space. In this case, opening up the walkway between the new island and range wall created a gap in the existing hardwood floors. To resolve this, we patched, sanded, and refinished the hardwoods to create a seamless look.

Additionally, plumbing and electrical systems had to be rerouted to accommodate the new layout and appliance locations. These behind-the-scenes details are critical to a custom kitchen design that not only looks beautiful but also functions effortlessly.

Designing Without Limitations: Custom Finishes

One of the biggest advantages of a custom kitchen remodel is the freedom to design without limitations. Rather than choosing from a preset package of finishes, the homeowners were finally able to choose every element in their space, including:

Personalized Built-In Details

Ultimately, the value of working with a Custom Builder is moving beyond “standard” options to create a kitchen designed around what you truly need, love, and enjoy. Features like the built-in cookbook shelf and dedicated cookie sheet storage aren’t just aesthetic—they make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. These thoughtful elements transform the kitchen into a space that reflects intentional, custom design, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

Ready to Upgrade to a Custom Kitchen?

Still living with a 90s kitchen? Many homes across Greenville and the Upstate are ready for a more personalized approach. Let’s talk about what’s possible when you’re no longer limited to standard layouts and finishes! Contact Us today to start planning your custom kitchen design.